2003 Conferences Ranges
From Hi-'Jinx' to Nagasaki

Nagasaki was in ashes and actress-model Jinx Falkenberg wowed the troops just exiting an car -- two observations among many about life in the Army and National Guard during World War II, that patrons of the 2003 Historical Society of the Georgia National Guard conference recently.

Held in Forsyth, Ga., the 12th annual conference featured talks by Brig. Gen. (Ret.) James McLendon who served with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater, John Meeler, a member of the Georgia Army Guard from 1936 through the war years served in Europe as a member of the 179th Field Artillery; and, Charles Shepherd, earned a Silver Star as leader of a rifle platoon of "K" company, 121st Infantry.

McLendon, who joined the Guard prior to the war, transferred to the Army Air Corps following the outbreak of hostilities, and served as a gunner-radio operator aboard a B-25 Mitchell Bomber in the Pacific. The general, who retired after serving as deputy commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade, told the Guardsmen and Society members gathered that he flew over Nagasaki prior to the dropping of the atomic bomb on that seaport city and remembered it as a busy, thriving place. Following the bomb, August 9, 1945, he said there was a "circle of white ash" surrounding it.

Meeler, who joined the 122nd Infantry in 1936, discussed his training as a young guardsman and then steps involved in that organization's conversion to a Field Artillery unit in 1940-41. He drew laughs as he described a visit by tennis star and film actress Jinx Falkenberg, an attractive woman "with a body to die for". He noted that as she stepped from the automobile she took a large step, which Meeler emulated, drawing stares, he said from the captivated trainees. She did the same thing, he said, as she reentered the car, and "well there was no use in going on with the training after that." Meeler served with the 179th throughout the European phase of the war ending up as the chief of the firing section for the unit.

Shepherd noted that he pushed to join the 121st once he arrived in Europe because it was the unit in which his father served during World War I. One June 6, 1944 he sailed from Boston for overseas arriving in Normandy, France in early July 1944 as a replacement officer. During July he requested and was assigned to the Company K, 121st Infantry. While overseas with the 121st, Mr.Shepherd was wounded twice and returned to duty. LT Shepard returned home to Atlanta following his discharge from service in 1945.

The Society also honored Mayor Paul Jossey, Brig. Gen. (ret.) with the Patriot Award. Jossey, entering his last few months as Mayor of Forsyth, was formerly Chief of Staff, Georgia Army Guard and earned the recognition for his patriotism, his interest in preserving the heritage and history of the Guard and his support for the Historical Society. Brig. Gen. (ret.) Tom Dalton, presented the award, calling it "truly an honor" to do so.

Reports on various ongoing projects were also offered to conferees. These included reports on the Journal of the Historical Society, oral history project and cannon restoration. E. Joseph Seguin, vice president of the organization, pointed with pride to the donation from Mr. Robert Burton of Athens, Ga., of about 150 letters written by his father who served as a Georgia Guardsman on the Mexican border in 1916 and later with the Guard's 151st machine gun battalion, 42nd Rainbow Division in World War I.